Maize: the gift of the gods

COURIERThe Bayer CropScience Magazine for Modern Agriculture 1/05From active substanceto product – theformulation is the keyFungi beware!Resistance development inpests – a global challengeProducer premiumsfrom certified cottonMaize: the giftof the gods

Contents3 Maize: the gift of the gods6 From active substanceto product – the formulationis the key10 Fungi beware!Dialogue with customers– the Online Magazineextends opportunities forthe reader13 A “Typhoon” that blows outfungal infection14 Joining forces against Fusarium– Bayer CropScience organizesan international Symposium17 Resistance development inpests – a global challenge20 Producer premiums fromcertified cottonPublished by: Bayer CropScience AG, Monheim / Editor:Bernhard Grupp / With contributions from: R. Audige, K.-U.Brüggen, D. Eck, P. Krewer, C. Leveque, A. Röchling, S.Rudolph (periodista independiente), R. Vermeer / Designand Layout: Xpertise, Langenfeld / Lithography: LetternserviceDüsseldorf GmbH, Düsseldorf / Printed by: Broermann,Troisdorf / Reproduction of contents is permissibleproviding Bayer is acknowledged and advised by specimencopy / Editor’s address: Bayer CropScience AG, CorporateCommunications, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, 40789 Monheimam Rhein, Germany, FAX: 0049-2173-383454 / Website:www.bayercropscience.comForward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking statementsbased on current assumptions and forecasts made byBayer CropScience AG management. Various known andunknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could leadto material differences between the actual future results,financial situation, development or performance of theBayer CropScience AG or our parent company, Bayer AG,and the estimates given here. These factors include thosediscussed in Bayer AG's public reports filed with the FrankfurtStock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities andExchange Commission (including Bayer AG's Form 20-F).Neither Bayer AG nor Bayer CropScience AG assumes anyliability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statementsor to conform them to future events or developments.Publishing articles on the internet presentsspecial challenges to authors and journalists.Internet text must be short and concise,put together in a modular way,arranged in sections under informativeheadings, and peppered with hyperlinks toprovide routes to further information. Thereader is presented with a summary of themost relevant points, and can decide forhimself how much he wants to read abouta particular subject.This is what distinguishes an onlinemagazine from a printed publication.Hyperlinks make it possible to refer to thebackground information on related topicsthat is already available on the internet. Soinstead of summarizing the same backgroundinformation in every article, anindication can be given as to where to findit in previous articles or a link can be providedto extensive background informationelsewhere.The online edition of Courier hasbecome a pretty useful resource for themany farmers, advisors and traders aroundfrom the world who regularly seek information.Its interactivity – direct contactbetween authors, editors and the reader -offers new possibilities for communication:email exchanges, obtaining the verylatest information, or direct access to thearchive.For example, old editions that have longbeen unavailable in their printed form canbe printed out at the user’s desk: only a fewmouse-clicks are needed. The quick-searchfunction allows direct access to a wealth ofinformation that the printed edition alonecould never match. The online editionallows the reader to search, choose andorganise the information spontaneouslyand independently.Actually, it is the combination of theprinted and online editions that offers thegreatest advantage to the reader. Insofar asthey complement each other, rather thancompete with or contradict each other, thecustomer is king, and is free to choose.The numerous queries we receive viaour customer magazine’s internet sitestrengthen our confidence that our readersrespond to, and profit from, the dialoguewe create. Further support for this comesfrom the steadily increasing number of hitswe have been receiving since the onlineedition of Courier started. And this is whatmotivates us in our work: being an attractivecustomer magazine for modern agriculture.■2 COURIER 1/05

Maize: the giftof the godsIntroductionMain producers of maize worldwideMaize (Zea mays L.) occupies thirdplace in world production as a source offood, forage, and processed products forindustry. It is one of the plants most frequentlystudied by scientists because of itsgreat adaptability to climates and regions,the high level of mutation it naturally possessesand the relative ease with which itcan be crossed and hybridized. It is theonly cereal from the New World which,because of its productivity and adaptability,spread rapidly to practically the entireworld after the Spaniards brought it toEurope.In 2004, approximately 704 milliontonnes of this grain were produced worldwide,mainly in the United States, China,United StatesChinaBrazilMexicoRest of the worldSource: FAO, 2004.Brazil and Mexico, which together suppliedabout 70 percent of world output.Most of global output is intended forforage and for the manufacture of industrialproducts such as oils and starches,among others; varieties to be eaten fresh oras popcorn can be found to a lesser extent.1/05 COURIER 3

What happens to maize output worldwideMaize is the most domesticated andmost highly developed plant in the entirevegetable kingdom today. Its origin anddevelopment are a mystery. Unlike othercereals, which have natural wild varieties,maize is known only through the cultivatedspecies. Because of this, various theorieshave been advanced since the last centuryto explain its origin and development; themost popular theory accepts Chalcoteocintle in Mexico (Zea mays sp. mexicana)as its direct ancestor.HistoryMaize came originally from America;in Mexico it was grown embryonically8,000 years ago, and it has been completelydomesticated for over 6,000 years.Its relationship with man has been suchthat it is now a plant which cannot reproducewithout human involvement, so, ifpeople stopped growing it, it would disappear.Industry and livestockFoodPopcornSource: IMSA, Mexico 2004.Mexico is well known for the Olmeca,Maya, Teotihuacána, Aztec and Purépechacultures, among others, which, for theirflowering and development as civilisations,shared maize as their common basis,since foods and beverages (more than 605different dishes are known), fertilisers, fuelfor the hearth, medicinal extracts (aloneand in combination with other plants) wereobtained from it, and are still beingobtained today. Its seeds were used for predictionrituals and for the production ofutensils and artefacts.For the Aztecs, the creation of man wasthe work of two gods, Quetzalcoatl andTezcatlipoca. These gods, locked in constantstruggle, formed the history of theuniverse. It is said that on one occasionQuetzalcoatl stole the “bone of preciousstone”, which was in the underworld andgave it to the goddess Ciuacoatl, whoground it on a flat grinding stone fromwhich she obtained a flour which, whenmixed with the blood of these gods, gaverise to man; Quetzalcoatl later gave her themaize which was hidden in a cave so shecould survive.To venerate such a precious gift, a godof maize was created whose name wasCentéotl. This peculiar god did not dominateany element nor did he appear amongthe greatest; he was simply maize, thecereal which gave the largest yield, survivedplagues and frosts and could grow inthe widest variety of climates.Later, during the Conquest, theSpaniards demanded that other cereals begrown; although they found that maize wasexcellent forage for animals, it was at thattime considered a cereal of inferior qualityfit only for animals and slaves.As mentioned in a Huichol legend, differentcolours of maize exist: the Motherof Maize changed her shape from that of adove and adopted human form; she presentedher five daughters, who symbolisethe five sacred colours of maize – white,red, yellow, speckled and blue – to the boy.As Man was hungry, the Mother of Maizegave him a pot full of tortillas and a gourd(recipient) full of atole (a cornflour drink);he did not believe that this could satisfy hishunger, but the supply of tortillas and atolekept being replenished by magic. This legendtalks about the colours of maize; theseexist even today. Source: The book, “Mitosy arte Huicholes” (Huichol myths and art).Maize currently accounts for almosthalf the total volume of food consumedevery year in Mexico. According to officialdata, approximately 300 million tortillasare eaten every day (prepared in largequantities by machinery or else by housewivesin many parts of the country, especiallyin rural areas, where it is a daily task)and this is why they say: “Maize, society,culture and history are inseparable. Ourpast and our present are based on maize.Our life is based on maize. We are maizepeople”. (Guillermo Bonfil Batalla: Elmaiz, fundamento de la cultura mexicana[Maize, the basis of Mexican culture].1982).Bayer CropScience: Protectingmaize – the most precious giftof the godsIn Mexico, between 7 and 8.4 millionhectares of maize are sown every yearthroughout the length and breadth of thecountry; there are three kinds of farmer:• The small-scale farmer: low-tech, with 1to 3 hectares on average, for his own con-4 COURIER 1/05

Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera)June beetle larvae (Phyllophaga spp.)Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)sumption. Has the lowest yields, 1.92tonnes/ha*.• The average farmer: medium- to hightech,with 5 to 50 hectares on average.Has yields of 5.79 tonnes/ha.*• The large-scale farmer: medium- andvery high-tech, with over 50 ha and withyields of 7.5 tonnes/ha.*Like other crops, maize has to face aseries of plant protection problems whichnecessitate the use of highly efficaciousproducts. Bayer CropScience offers farmersa wide range of solutions to these problems.The main problems of maize in Mexicocan be classified as: soil pests, foliagepests, and weeds.Soil pestsAfter sowing, maize at its initial stagehas to face attacks from various pests,including white grubs (Phyllophaga spp.),wireworms (Melanotus spp.), and cornrootworms (Diabrotica spp.), which causeserious losses as they feed directly on theroots. Azteca ® 2g and Mocap ® 15g areinsecticides which control these pestseffectively.This year, Poncho ® will be launched onthe market; it is an excellent chloronicotinylinsecticide (CNI) for the treatmentof seeds; its active substance is clothianidin;it has systemic activity and a broadspectrum which means that it can controlsoil pests, including black cutworms(Agrotis spp.) and thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis,Caliothrips (=Hercothrips) phaseoli),more effectively than conventionalapplications of granules. Operational riskscan be reduced when Poncho is applied, asit has a low impact on the environment andis therefore an excellent alternative for themaize crop. Start sowing peace of mind,sow seed treated with Poncho.*Source: SAGARPA (Mexican Department ofAgriculture, Stockbreeding, Rural Development,Fisheries and Food) 2003Large seed companies such as Pioneerand Monsanto have now started to usePoncho on their hybrid seeds, with excellentresults; in countries like the UnitedStates, Monsanto has stated in pressreleases that it will market only seedtreated with this product.Foliage pestsOne of the main pests is the fall armyworm(Spodoptera frugiperda). This insectis voracious and feeds initially on theleaves of the small plants and later insidethe hearts. Decis ® 2.5 CE is very efficaciousin controlling fall armyworms. Onoccasion, maize weevils (Sphenophoruszeae), shiny black insects measuringbetween 15 and 18 millimetres long,appear; they live a few centimetres belowground, around the stalks, on which theyfeed, making holes in them with their hardbeaks. Baytroid ® 05 CE controls both fallarmyworms and weevils.WeedsOf all the problems, weeds are the mostimportant in maize-growing and controllingthem absorbs between 60 and 65% ofthe materials applied.As a general rule, three types of applicationsare made, depending on the time ofapplication.Applications are sometimes madebefore sowing (pre-sowing), using nonselectiveherbicides which leave theground free of weeds so that the maize canbe sown afterwards. In some areas, Finale ®SL 14 (a non-selective contact herbicidefrom the ammonium salts group) is beingused successfully, but the search is continuingfor an ally which would offer theresults that the farmer expects in everyarea where pre-sowing application is performed.Depending on the condition of the cropand on the weeds, we have pre-emergentapplications, where an effort is made tokeep the first stages weed-free. An examplefor this type of application is Tiara ® 60WG, a herbicide from the oxiacetamidesgroup which controls leafy weeds as wellas grass.Finally, there are post-emergence applicationsto the crop where selective productsor substances directed at the bottom ofthe furrow can be applied.After pre-emergence or pre-sowingapplication of herbicides (the two are neverapplied to one and the same plot), thefarmer has to carry out one applicationdirected at the bottom of the furrow orbetween rows. Products exist which, whenapplied, damage the base of the stalk andthe adventitious roots of maize. In additionto offering excellent weed control, FinaleSL 14 does not damage the stalk or adventitiousroots.Herbicides applied before emergence orat the bottom of the furrow occasionally donot provide sufficiently effective control,as the weeds are the same height as themaize, so the farmer has to apply a selectiveherbicide. In Mexico, Bayer CropSciencewill shortly be launching Maister ® , a postemergencesystemic herbicide with selectivityfor maize formulated on the basis offoramsulfuron plus iodosulfuron, designedfor the control of broad-leafed weeds andthe majority of narrow-leafed weeds inmaize, ensuring high selectivity withoutimpairing efficacy.In Mexico, Bayer CropScience hashelped to secure producers’ harvests formore than 50 years, and always placedemphasis on maximum utility per productpurchased. With the development of newcompounds and types of formulations, thisvision of commitment to and support forproducers is set to continue in the future.And, to end, we should mention: “Thegods gave us maize ... the legends and traditionssay so. For thousands of years it hasbeen a vital element of our culture and dietand it will continue to be one. The plant ofMexico, venerated and pure.” ■1/05 COURIER 5

From active substanceto product – theformulation is the keyCrop protection isn’t simplya question of using theright active substance: thesuccess of a product alsodepends on deliveringthe active substance inthe right formulation*.

The science of Formulation Technologyinvolves incorporating the active substanceinto a final product that is the most practicalfor the user, and which guarantees thata small amount of active substance is distributedevenly over a large treated area.An important consideration is whether thecrop protection agent will be applied byspraying, irrigation or broadcasting, orwhether treatment should be in the form ofa seed-coating. This article discusses thevarious factors that have to be taken intoaccount when developing the right formulationfor a particular active substance. Itwill also introduce the formulation typesthat have been developed for the mostcommonly used types of spray application.Solution, Emulsion,Suspension or GranuleOne of the most important considerationsfor the user in the field is that thecrop protection product should remain in astable mixture with water in the spray tank.This presents formulation technologistswith a real challenge, because there arevery few products that are fully soluble inwater. For this reason, many formulationsare prepared in the form of concentratedemulsions or suspensions in readiness foruse. Other formulations are sold as organicsolvents or granules that form an emulsionor suspension only after being diluted withwater in the spray tank. Emulsions containwater. Because the larger droplets reflectlight, macro-emulsions appear as typicalmilky-white spray mixtures.The importance of the solventThe development of an EC-formulationstarts with the search for a suitable solventor mixture of solvents that meets the followingcriteria: it must be toxicologicallyand ecotoxicologically safe, and shouldhave low flammability. According to thedemands the formulation and the activesubstance have to meet, further substancesmay be introduced, for example to optimizethe spreadability of the spray mixtureor to promote the penetration of the activeHigh demands made offormulationsThe choice of formulation is determinedby the type of use, the crop to betreated, the cultural methods most commonlyused in the region, and any specificrequirements on the part of the user. Butthe wide range of formulation types thathave been developed also follows fromvariation in the physico-chemical propertiesof the active substances themselves.Among these, melting point, solubility andchemical stability are important factors.Another determinant is whether the activesubstance shows systemic redistribution,or only contact activity. A particularlyimportant aspect of the formulation is thatit should aim to optimize factors such asretention, penetration, rain-fastness andspreadability, so that the active substancecan express its full biological activity.The development of a formulation alsoinvolves testing further important criteriasuch as crop compatibility, environmentalbehaviour, and toxicity. Moreover, it isimportant that the product, once sold,remains stable in storage under variousconditions, retaining its activity for at leasttwo years.Being able to meet these challengesrelies on the availability of a selection ofdifferent formulation types: EC, EW, SL,SC, WG, and more recently, CS, SE andOD. Special products, such as slug pelletsand several other application types, arealso available – for example for use in gardens.Diluting an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) in water produces an emulsion.the active substance dissolved in finelydistributedoil droplets, whereas suspensionscontain the active substance in theform of finely-distributed solid particles.Emulsifiable concentrates (EC)ECs have long been, and remain one ofthe most important formulation types forapplying crop protection agents to cereals.The farmer buys a liquid product, in whichthe components of the formulation comprisea homogeneous solution. An emulsionis formed only after dilution withwater. This might, for example, be a microemulsionwith droplet sizes of between0.01 and 0.1 µm. Apart from a slight bluishshimmer resulting from light dispersion(the so-called Tyndall-Effect), the microemulsionappears to the user as a clearsolution, because the individual dropletscannot be seen with the naked eye.However, most EC-formulations comprisea macro-emulsion with a droplet size ofbetween 0.1 and 10 µm when diluted withsubstance into the plant. Finally, the appropriateemulsifier system must be selected,so that the emulsion remains sufficientlystable for spray application following dilutionwith water.The challenge of stabilityOnce prepared by the user, an emulsionmust remain stable for at least 24 hourswithout forming significant amounts ofdeposits in the form of oil, cream, or sediment.It is also vital to avoid crystallizationof the active substance in the spray mixture,because this could lead to blockage ofthe spray nozzles or the pump filter duringapplication.What used to be considered an acceptabledegree of crystallization is no longerthinkable for a modern EC-formulation.On the one hand, the demands made by theuser have sharply increased; on the other* The preparation called the „formulation“ is identicalto the product as sold.1/05 COURIER 7

hand, modern application equipment andapplication methods require emulsions ofthe highest quality in order to allow thecrop protection agent to be distributedevenly across the treated field. A furtherconsideration is that the quality criteria forthe registration of new products havebecome significantly more stringent.Careful with mixtures!All formulation types have to be testedfor their miscibility with other crop protectionproducts, fertilisers and additives,because they must retain their biologicalactivity and crop compatibility in mixtureswith these products. Each individual formulationis a finely-tuned „system“ initself. Mixing formulations in the spraytank inevitably leads to various degrees ofunfavourable interaction between the inertingredients present in the different formulations.At worst, gel-formation, coagulationor sedimentation can make the spraymixture totally unusable. This places theonus on users to restrict themselves to mixturesthat have been fully tested and validated.Soluble liquids (SL)The water-soluble, liquid concentrates(Soluble Liquids), like the EC and EW,contain the active substance in dissolvedformulations. Nevertheless, localized concentrationof the product can lead to somedegree of crystallization if the spray mixtureis not properly stirred.Emulsions in Water (EW)EW-formulations are emulsions inwater. The emulsion can comprise a liquidactive substance, or otherwise one that hasbeen dissolved in solvents. This means thatconsiderably less solvent is applied to thecrop compared with EC-formulations.With an EW, the emulsion has already beenestablished in the sold product, and is onlydiluted in the spray mixture. EW-formulationshave the advantage that they show littletendency to form crystals in the spraymixture. EWs can also be in the form ofeither micro- and macro-emulsions.However, EW-formulations are uncommon,because few active substances areliquids or possess the suitable solubilityproperties.Suspension concentrates (SC)In SC-formulations, the active substanceis present as a solid that is finelydistributedin particles of between 1 and 4µm in size. The particles are held in suspensionin the water-based mediumthrough the addition of so-called dispersingagents; this effect involves mutualMixing a suspension concentrate (SC) with waterpresent as finely-distributed particles.means that its biological availability islower than with EC, EW and SL formulations.This is why SCs are most suitablewhen a high degree of contact exposure ofthe host organism is the main aim.Water dispersible granules (WG)For insoluble active substances, wettablepowders (WP) used to be the preferredformulation type; however, thesetend to form dust and are difficult to doseout. Nowadays, these problems are solvedby choosing water dispersible granules.These are dust-free in practice, and allowthe inclusion of large amounts of activesubstance in the product, so WGs are particularlyuseful for active substances thatneed to be applied at high rates. In thisway, even if production costs are relativelyhigh, the cost per hectare can usually bekept down. WGs generally show good cropcompatibility, so they are often used formore sensitive crops, such as grapevine.Capsule suspensions (CS)Dissolving a soluble concentrate (SL) in water results in a clear solution.form. However, SLs differ from ECs andEWs in that every component of the formulationis dissolved in the water-basedspray mixture – which is why the latter isalways a clear solution. This means thatSL-formulations can only be developed foractive substances that are sufficientlywater-soluble. A minimum spray mixturevolume is usually recommended for SL-repellency between the particles; and incombination with other substances thatform net-like structures, the dispersingagents also prevent sediments from forming.One disadvantage though is that theproduct’s high viscosity generally makes itmore difficult to empty the packagingcompletely. The fact that the active substanceis present in crystalline form alsoCapsule Suspensions are the best choiceif an active substance shows problems withstability, or needs to be released in theenvironment in a controlled manner. Theactive substance can be present within thecapsule either dissolved or dispersed in theliquid phase. The internal phase of the capsuleis usually a solvent. The capsule ispresent in the product and later, in thespray mixture, in suspension. A CS ismade from an emulsion that already containsthe active substance; the other componentis the capsule wall, the characteristicsof which determine the release kineticsof the CS formulation.8 COURIER 1/05

produces a suspension. The active substance isSuspoemulsions (SE)A suspoemulsion is a combination of theSC and EW formulation types. The continuousphase comprises water, in which bothsolid particles and emulsion droplets arefinely distributed. This formulation type isespecially suitable wherever two activesubstances with starkly contrasting solubilityprofiles or melting points need to bemixed. The emulsion phase can also containadditives that promote the systemicactivity of the active substance.Oil dispersions (OD)Many (new) systemic active substancescannot be formulated as ECs because oftheir particular properties. Because theoptimal activity of these active substancesdepends on their entering the plant, alternativesare needed in which the active substanceis present in solid form. TheFormulation Technology Unit at BayerCropScience has developed various conceptsinvolving oil dispersions (OD) inorder to achieve the required levels of biologicalactivity and crop compatibility. Inan OD, a solid active substance is suspendedin an oil. The oil also serves as acarrier for additives and/or a safener.Diluting the OD in water can produce variousspray mixtures: if the active substanceis itself water-soluble (as in many herbicides),then an emulsion results; if theactive substance shows low water solubility(as in many insecticides), a suspoemulsionresults.OutlookIn the context of the steadily increasingdemands of modern crop protection, new,optimized variations on existing formulationtypes – and of course new concepts –Stirring water-dispersable granules (WG) into water makes them spread spontaneously.will always be required. This is the taskassumed by the Formulation TechnologyUnit at Bayer CropScience. Formulationtechnology is an interdisciplinary scientificundertaking, with special relationships tothe disciplines of colloid chemistry andinterfacial physics, in which technicalchemistry plays an essential role.In one of the next issues of Courier, youwill be able to read about how efficientmodern spray applications can be, and howformulation technology can improve thedistribution of the active substances on,and within, the plant. ■Mixing an oil dispersion (OD) with water results in a suspoemulsion.1/05 COURIER 9

Fungibeware!

If fungi could indeed watch out, they definitely shoulddo so as Bayer CropScience is about to launch a wholerange of new fungicidal seed treatment products.In fact, in some cases the launch has begun already.Seed treatment, as numerous studieshave shown, is one of the most efficientways to protect crops from harm. Manyimportant diseases can’t be controlled byany other means. Spraying after plants haveemerged is too late when fighting diseaseslike the common bunt of wheat, snow mouldand loose smut or stripe disease, to namebut a few. In contrast, seed treatmentallows the simultaneous control of pathogensin the soil as well as on and in theseed: by applying the active substancedirectly to the seed it disinfects its surface.In the soil, the active ingredient forms aprotective zone around the seed. As soonas the tender roots emerge they absorb theagent.Seed treatment has additional benefits.Just a relatively small amount of the activesubstance is necessary to provide theseedling with a high level of protectionagainst a broad variety of fungal diseases.This not only makes the method interestingfor economic reasons but also from an ecologicalpoint of view: Compared withspraying, it dramatically reduces thetreated area. Seed treatment is one of themost focused chemical crop protectionmethods available to date. “The applicationof a seed treatment product helps toensure that the seed germinates rapidly,that the young plants are not affected bypests and diseases and that the cropquickly achieves the desired density. Thisis how seed treatment contributes to highyields and high-quality harvests” saysBurkhard Schütz, leader of the teamresponsible for the fungicidal seed treatmentproducts at Bayer CropScience inMonheim, Germany.Bayer CropScience has a long traditionin the seed treatment business with manysuccessful products already introduced:but it refuses to rest on its laurels. Morethan five new fungicidal seed treatmentproducts will be launched within the nextfour years. Two have been developed withthe East European market in mind; the othersare targeted at Western Europe. Yet, asBurkhard Schütz says, these seed treatmentproducts “offer opportunities for otherregions, too. For instance, I could imagineLatin and North America and Australia totake advantage of them”. According toplans, at least twenty five countries worldwidewill benefit from the new products.“These are tailored solutions for therespective markets. They are differentiatedaccording to region and the predominantdiseases as well as the respective diseasepressure.”One of those new products is Raxil ®Ultra, an advanced development of thewell-established product Raxil. Raxil,today sold in 40 countries around theglobe, provides good control of Basiodomyceteson wheat and barley. ThomasGroenke, Product Manager, Seed TreatmentFungicides from Bayer CropSciencein Monheim: “Raxil earned the reputationas a superior protection product for seeddue to its broad spectrum of activity. Theproduct is easy to use and reliable whichmeans it provides cost efficient protectionagainst the most important seed- and soilbornediseases in cereals. Raxil is based onthe active substance tebuconazole, a wellestablishedleading fungicide from BayerCropScience. We have built on that: ouradvanced product Raxil Ultra relies on thesame tried and tested active ingredient butit now comes in double concentration. Itoffers a highly-concentrated formulationresulting in less storage space and lesspackaging to dispose of. Hence we thoughtfor this new concept that it is entirely appropriateto give it a new logo and package.”Ukraine was the first country worldwideto see the launch of Raxil Ultra. Inmid-February, at twenty five degreesbelow zero, two hundred farmers, tradersand seed merchants gathered together tolearn more about the new product. EduardMuljar, Product Manager from BayerCropScience in Kiev reflects: “Our experiencehas shown the importance of a successfulproduct launch. We therefore didour best to give a perfect presentation ofRaxil Ultra to our key distributors. Farmers,who are the actual decision makers, alsoparticipated. The combination of headquarterspecialists as well as Ukrainian scientistshas been very effective. In order tofurther strengthen the success of the initiallaunch event we have organized trainingseminars in different regions of the country.Accompanying this, there was a strongadvertising campaign in central andregional mass media to make our customersaware of the new product. As aresult we have received many orders forRaxil Ultra already.”But researchers at Bayer CropSciencedo not just advance tried and tested formulae.They have also come up with twoentirely new active substances. Both ofthese new agents, prothioconazole andfluoxastrobin were parallel developmentsfrom the mid-90s for foliar and seed treat-1/05 COURIER 11

ment uses. Fluoxastrobin is a new BayerCropScience strobilurin, prothioconazolebelongs to a new chemical class: triazolinthiones,the latest Bayer CropSciencedevelopment of the triazole family. “Due totheir biological and physio-chemical properties,both fluoxastrobin and prothioconazolehave been developed for worldwideusage across a range of arable crops asfoliar and seed treatment products”,explains Thomas Groenke and adds: “Theyboth are unique in their excellent control ofsnow mould.” Snow mould, Microdochiumnivale, plays an important role in countrieswhere sowing is done under cold conditionssince preferentially it develops at lowtemperatures under snow cover.The first generation of products usingthese new active substances is on its way.Redigo ® is the brand name for straight prothioconazole,the highly active substancefrom the class of the triazolinthiones. Itsfirst commercial launch is just running inthe UK this year. According to ThomasGroenke, Redigo will become “the newcornerstone in our fungicide cereal seedtreatment portfolio. It is a generalist with abroad spectrum of efficacy and will providea reliable solution for snow mould inwheat. Also, it offers reliable control of allother major soil- and seed-borne diseasesin wheat, having shown excellent performanceagainst Fusarium, Ustilago andTilletia in our field tests. It thus has themost complete spectrum of activity to date.In barley, Redigo provides an excellentlevel of control against covered smut and agood performance against barley loosesmut. The product also shows good compatibilityto plants and a favourable environmentalbehaviour as well as excellentseed colouring. I believe it will become theleading product in our new product familyand set a new benchmark in disease controlfor the standard segment.”The other member of this first generationof new products is Bariton ® . This is aninnovative formulation containing bothnew active substances: prothioconazoleand fluoxastrobin. It thus combines twomodes of action: while fluoxastrobin isactive on the respiratory chain of fungi,prothioconazole leads to abnormal steroldistribution in the fungal cell wall (DMI*-type). Like Redigo, Bariton is an easy-tohandleformulation and complies with allrequirements and safety features of a moderncrop protection product. The third newproduct, Scenic ® , combines prothioconazole,fluoxastrobin and tebuconazole.Researchers from Bayer CropScience saythe products’ active substances complementeach other very well: “They arematched in tailored formulations. Theircomplementary modes of action and biologicalprofiles ensure these well balancedcombinations are unique solutions and arethe basis for an outstanding, reliable andconsistent performance at the highestlevel.” Both Bariton and Scenic weredeveloped primarily for the premium segmentof the European market and offersolutions for broad-spectrum disease controlin cereals.A second generation of new prothioconazoleproducts will be marketed andsold under the brand name Lamardor ® . It isa new highly concentrated formulationcontaining prothioconazole and tebuconazole,developed especially for Central andEastern Europe. “There, it will set a newstandard” believes Thomas Groenke andcontinues: “Clearly, in fungicidal cerealseed treatment we are the company thatoffers the most comprehensive productportfolio.” Part of this portfolio is anotherbrand, introduced two years ago andalready well-established as Galmano ® .Galmano is one of the few productsoffering protection against Take-all(Gaeumannomyces graminis). Highly cropsafe, it helps to ensure high yield in situationswhere, for instance, cereal crops werelast in the crop rotation and from otherfields at risk to Take-all. In addition, it is abroad-spectrum seed treatment productwith foliar activity and seed disinfectionbenefits, promoting a healthy root system.It reduces the level of infection with leafspot (Septoria tritici), brown rust (Pucciniarecondita) and yellow rust (P. striiformis)and also protects the seed against commonseed- and soil-borne cereal diseases likebunts (Tilletia spp.), smuts (Ustilago spp.),Fusarium spp. and Septoria nodorum. “Weare very proud to have Galmano in ourportfolio”, admits Markus Heldt, ProductManager, Seed Treatment Fungicides inMonheim.The significance of seed treatment isconfirmed by its worldwide use: it is standardin many crops and accounts for fourper cent of the total crop protection market.Bayer CropScience is the marketleader today and is confident to maintainthis position in the future through a superiorand balanced product portfolio, thelevel and quality of services provided tothe customers and through the excellentbusiness relationships with the global seedcompanies. Bayer CropScience therefore isproud of its success in bringing two newactive substances to the market. ■*DMI = demethylation inhibitorPink snow mould (Microdochium nivale)Take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis)12 COURIER 1/05

A “Typhoon” that blowsout fungal infectionBayer CropScience in Chile hasdeveloped a new system ofcontrolling post harvest diseasesin fruit.Researchers from Bayer CropScience inChile have developed an exclusive systemcalled Typhoon that will change the treatmentof fruit diseases in the post-harvestperiod. Now in its pre-marketing stage,this brand new technology is especiallybeneficial to producers and exporters oftable grapes allowing to lengthen the sellingperiod of the fruit and opening theopportunity to obtain better prices.The new application system, which hasbeen created to respond to the needs of theChilean fruit industry, is designed to beused in packing centers. Thanks to thetechnology it is now possible to applyfungicides during the process of packingtable grapes. It increases the period ofhealthy life of the stored grapes and duringtransport until their final destination, theconsumer in the importing country.Several efficiency tests carried out bythe University of Chile and BayerCropScience in Chile show, that it is possibleto considerably lengthen grape conservationperiod, which permits better planningof export schedules and thus increasingprofitability. The tests also found thatthe system enables a better control of postharvest diseases, such as Botrytis and acidrot, reducing the economical loss considerably.Typhoon appears to be an efficientalternative to traditional techniques likesulfur dioxide (SO 2 ).Rubén Santa María, Grape CropManager for Bayer CropScience in Chilesaid recently: "Chile exports around 90million boxes of table grape per season andexporters are constantly searching foralternatives allowing them to stock thegrape in good conditions for longer periods,in order to optimise its marketing,avoid high sea transport rates, and complywith environmental demands".Environmentally friendlytechnologyRicardo Saini, Development and ProjectManager of Bayer CropScience in Chile,explains that this is obtained thanks to ahighly efficient and environmentally safeprocedure. The system, he adds, is inaccordance with all the residue norms forthe different countries where the Chileantable grapes are exported to as well as withinternational standards of Good AgriculturalPractice.The Typhoon spraying equipment isbuilt in such way as not to cause productlosses during spraying. Furthermore, it ismodular and may be adapted to differentinstallations and/or packing lines. It isequipped with an automatic nozzle systemwhich ensures a uniform covering of thegrapes and that the correct dosage isapplied. The spraying method uses BayerCropScience fungicides which have provenvery efficient in controlling post-harvestdiseases and which are adequatelydesigned for this application system.Joint treatment demonstrationsThere is an ambitious on-going program oftreatment demonstrations throughout thetable grape producing zone in Chile. Thisprogram uses two perfectly equippedTyphoon machines and a well-trained professionalteam and will cover at least 30table grape packing houses in the differentvalleys. "We are working in coordinationwith several table grape exporting industriescompanies such as Dole, del Monte,Chiquita, Unifrutti and Rio Blanco. At alater date a good number of pallets oftreated fruit will be sent to different destinationsin order to follow-up and evaluatethe performance during low temperaturestorage and commercial process" explainsBenjamín Valiente, Fungicide Indicator,Bayer CropScience in Chile. The service isdue to start in Chile during the 2005/2006season. ■In charge of the Typhoon project: Ricardo Saini andRubén Santa María from Bayer CropScience in Chile.Qualified trained operators treating table grapes withTyphoon.

Joining forces against Fusarium –Bayer CropScience organizes aninternational Symposium„If I see that my cereal cropis infected with Fusarium, thenit’s simply too late. There aren’tany curative fungicides availableyet. The best thing to do ofcourse is to prevent infection inthe first place. But in order tobe able to control the disease, Ineed your help.“ This is howHeinrich Kemper, himself afarmer, presented the problemsgrowers are faced with in hiscontribution to the conference.Fusarium species of fungalpathogen cause enormous yieldlosses in wheat and maize eachyear. Fusarium infection notonly reduces the size and qualityof the harvest: it alsodecreases the viability of theharvested seed. But moreimportantly, the mycotoxins -such as deoxynivalenol (DON)– that Fusarium pathogens produceare particularly dangerous.For this reason, BayerCropScience organised a Symposiumdesigned to bringtogether all interested parties:growers’ representatives, cerealstraders, the food industry,retail trade, and researchers.About a hundred participantsfrom around the world met inorder to exchange knowledge,to learn from each other, and tounderstand better each other’sneeds and expectations.Right at the start of theSymposium, Heino Rosner fromthe German Federal Office ofConsumer Protection and FoodSafety explained how maximumtolerances for mycotoxinresidues are set by law, andwhich criteria are used to setthem. According to Rosner,regulators must consider firstand foremost the well-beingand safety of the consumer. Onthe other hand, economicaspects must also be considered:for example, the practicalitiesof applying the tolerances:„each maximum residuelevel is a compromise.“The following set of contributionswas specifically concernedwith maximum tolerancesfor DON. Heinrich Kemperrepresented the farmers’ viewpoint;Jean-Michel Aspar ofCOCERAL the expectations ofcereal traders; Carl Schwinkeof the Siemer Milling Companyand Diarmuid O’Connorof Nestlé presented the perspectiveof the food industry;14 COURIER 1/05

Uwe Rabe, Poduct Manager of Folicur at Bayer CropScience and organizer of the symposium, welcomes the participants.About hundred international experts took part in the Fusarium symposium at Bayer CropSience’s headquarter in Monheim,Germany.and Chiara Faenza of COOPItalia spoke for the retail trade.Irrespective of whether theydiscussed the additional costsincurred, or various initiativesto reduce mycotoxin levels,each of the speakers basicallyaddressed the same question:how do we meet legal requirementsin practice, whilst remainingeconomically competitive?And Diarmuid O’Connorpointed out that if tolerancesfor DON contamination are toolow, they can have the wrongeffect: „For baby foods, its notonly the tolerances for DONthat are considerably lowerthan those for the “normal”(adult) consumer: residue limitsfor other substances are alsomuch more stringent. Cerealcommodities offered on theopen market simply do notmeet these lower limits – so wehave to work with contractgrowers. However, whereaslevels of, for example, heavymetals are relatively easy topredict, this is not the case formycotoxin residues. If our contractgrowers can’t controlFusarium reliably in theircereal crops, then we have difficultyin sourcing, and as aresult we have to raise theprices of our baby foods. But ifbaby food becomes too expensive,parents tend to give theirchildren „adult food“ – in otherwords food from commoditiesfor which the considerablyhigher limits for adults apply.This situation cannot be in anybody’sinterest.“It emerged that a centralproblem facing those involvedin the food-production chain isa combination of cumbersomeand inadequate analytical andcontrol procedures. Kemperexpressed it from the farmer’spoint-of-view thus: „We don’tyet have a rapid, standard andreliable test for measuringDON-content. But we can’twait around for two days duringharvesting in order toobtain reliable values! We needto know for sure whether thecereal crop can be used forfood or animal feed, or whetherwe have to store it separately.“The need for such tests wasindirectly confirmed by ArtSchaafsma of the University ofGuelph, Canada. His studieshave shown that, for example,post-harvest determination ofthe proportion of Fusariumdamagedkernels (FDK) byoptical means is highly subjective.Moreover, according toSchaafsma, the level of correspondencebetween the FDKvalueand the actual mycotoxincontent – in this case, theDON-value – is not particularlyhigh. Therefore he, too, calledfor a reliable but practical testmethod to be established.Of course it would be best toprevent Fusarium infection(and thereby contaminationwith mycotoxins) altogether, orat least to limit its severity. Allof the speakers agreed thatbecause infection is influencedby a variety of factors, the onlyreal chance of achieving this isthrough integrated crop management(ICM).The second half of theSymposium was given over toresearchers from various countriesand continents, who presentedthe results of their studies,and described initiativesbeing taken in their countries.Isolde Häuser-Hahn, a researcherin the area of FungicideBiology within BayerCropScience, set the scenewith a presentation on the lifecycleof Fusarium spp. She alsodescribed the laboratory methodsthat are used to measurefungal growth, and to determinethe efficacy of fungicidesagainst Fusarium. Assessmentsof fungicidal activity andmycotoxin analysis are linkedwith field trials, in which theincidence of Fusarium infectionand possible contaminationof seeds with mycotoxinsare analysed. Alongside microscopyand a range of other conventionalmethods, a recentlydevelopedtechnique, MIPS ®1(Multiple Imaging Plant Stress)is also used to obtain non-invasiveimages and measurementsof photosynthetic activity inthe ear or other plant parts.This allows an estimate to bemade of the metabolic penaltyresulting from Fusarium infection.MIPS ® can also be used toshow how fungicide treatmentcan alleviate this loss of photo-1 = registered trademark of the PlantResearch International Institutes,Wageningen, NL1/05 COURIER 15

The participants of the symposium at a glance.synthetic capacity by controllingthe fungus.Bernd Rodemann, a plantpathologist at the GermanFederal Biological ResearchCentre for Agriculture andForestry, discussed – like manyother speakers – how variousfactors have a significantimpact on infection: climaticconditions at the time of flowering;preceding crop; soil cultivation;and finally, choice ofcrop variety [see Courier 2/04]– with particular reference totest results from new varieties.Rodemann also showed data onthe relationship between varietalplant height and susceptibilityto Fusarium: taller varietiesare usually less susceptible,because spores have furtherto travel when they arespread from the ground toflowering parts by rain-splashand wind. Taken together, thisknowledge can be translatedinto practical recommendationsfor farmers. Finally, Rodemannhinted how harvesting and storageof cereals should be donesuch that the mycotoxin contentcan be kept as low as possible,or indeed to reduce theformation of mycotoxins. Thefarmer should avoid harvestingduring a period of high relativeair humidity, and should ensurethat the crop is as dry as possibleat the time of harvest. Theharvested seed should becleaned or sieved, and driedbefore storage such that itsmoisture content is below 15%.Storage temperatures shouldnot exceed a maximum of 30°C.Another way of protectingagainst Fusarium is to usefungicides. Kemper had posedthe question: „I know that thebest time to apply a fungicide isone or two days after infection– but when is that exactly? If Iwant to catch the right moment,I’ll need a good forecastingsystem.“ Such „infection riskforecast models“ have indeedbeen developed. They aim topredict the risk of infection afarmer should expect for hiscrop, in order to help him totake the appropriate measuresin good time. Art Schaafsmafrom Canada, Marcia McMullenfrom the USA, Claude Maumenéfrom France and RicardoMoschini from Argentina eachpresented a different model,each with its own approach.For all of these models, themain emphasis is on the analysisof meteorological data, butagronomic field data such ascrop growth stage, varietal susceptibility,previous crop, andthe soil cultivation methodused are also taken into consideration.Some forecasting servicesprovide the farmer withconcrete recommendations asto the best timing for applyingfungicides.Just as important as the timingof spraying is the technologyused to make the application.Reinhard Frießleben, Headof Application Technology atBayer CropScience, describedcurrent trends and new knowledgeregarding the best applicationtechnologies; the mainemphasis of his presentationwas on choosing the best typeof nozzle, the most importantcomponent of the sprayingequipment. How much of thesprayed product actually reachesthe target, where it can beeffective? The degree of coverageachieved is strongly dependenton the type of nozzle used.The effectiveness of the applicationis determined by dropletsize and distribution. Thesmaller the droplet, the better itsticks to the plant surface, andthe longer and more effectivelythe product can work. Unfortunatelythough, smallernozzles have the disadvantageof being more problematic anddifficult to use in practice.Drift-reducing nozzles are onlyto be recommended for sensitivefield-edges, according toFrießleben. The amount ofwater used is another significantdeterminant of the successof a spray application. Studieshave shown that 200 l/ ha is theoptimum amount. However,Frießleben again stressed theprime importance of spray timing.Even if the timing of applicationand coverage of cropsurfaces are optimal, fungicidesdiffer significantly in theirefficacy against Fusarium. AkosMesterházy of the HungarianSzeged University presentedthe results of trials in which hehad tested the potential of variousfungicides. He showed thatonly a few products providedconsistent protection across seasons– here, Bayer CropScience’sprothioconazole was the bestperformer.At the end of the Symposium,Friedrich Kerz-Möhlendick,Team Leader of theCereal Fungicides group atBayer CropScience describedfor the participants what BayerCropScience has to offer forcontrolling Fusarium. He showedthat the combination of theactive substances tebuconazoleand prothioconazole in theproduct Prosaro ® gave the mostcomprehensive protectionagainst Fusarium. Respondingto Kemper’s call for help, Kerz-Möhlendick ended his contributionby extending BayerCropScience company slogan:„We’re not only your partnerfor growth – we’re also yourpartner for Fusarium control.“Please pay a visit to ourwebsites, where you will findfurther information relating to„Fusarium“.Here are the addresses:www.bayercropscience.comand www.agrocourier.com. ■16 CORREO 1/05

Budworm(Heliothis virescens)Resistance development inpests – a global challengeThe economic impact of insecticideresistance is often underestimated. As thefollowing will show, this can be dangerous.For example, according to the InsecticideResistance Action Committee (IRAC),insecticide resistance costs US agricultureabout 40 million US dollars a year in termsof additional treatments and alternativecontrol measures. Regular reports ofsevere yield losses attributable to insecticideresistance also come from otherregions of the world. The development ofresistance in the budworm (Heliothisvirescens) in Mexico in the 1970s even ledto a situation in which growing cottonbecame practically impossible in someareas. This removed farmers’ main sourceof income, and had serious consequencesfor the local economy.1/05 COURIER 17

Aphids on a potato leaf Spider mite (Tetranychus sp.) Cotton whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)How does resistancedevelop?All organisms of a particular specieshave certain genetically-determined characteristicsin common. However, all individualswithin a species differ slightly – inother words, no two organisms of the samespecies are identical. This is because theparticular characteristics of a species areexpressed differently – according to thegenetic variation present within thespecies. The variability within a populationreflects the potential for change to occurwith regard to particular characteristics. Itis an important determinant of how capablea population is of surviving when environmentalconditions shift, and representsa significant factor in the process of evolution.The ability to adapt is latent in the genepool of a species, and it begins to showwhen the selection pressure imposed by acertain factor in the environment increases.Consider the relevance of this to the use ofinsecticides: certain individuals within apest population may already possess genetically-determinedresistance to a particularactive substance – even before it has beenapplied. Individuals possessing genes forresistance might normally only be presentas a small proportion of the population, butwhen an insecticide is applied, the selectionpressure in favour of the resistancethey possess increases. Resistance willthen spread quickly within the population,particularly if the organism has a rapidturnover of generations and reproducesitself in large numbers.Examples of pests with a strong abilityto develop insecticide resistance areaphids, white flies, mites, and various lepidopteranspecies, including the generaSpodoptera, Heliothis and Plutella. Thesepests possess the biological characteristicsdescribed above: they produce several generationsa year, and show a very highreproduction rate. This allows geneticselection and adaptation to changes inexternal factors to happen particularlyquickly in these types of insect.The development of resistance is oftenassociated with reduced biological fitnessin the absence of the factor selecting forthat resistance; so if the insecticide is nolonger used, the frequency of resistancewithin the population usually declines. Butit may remain latent, such that it can reemergeif selection pressure increasesagain, should the insecticide enter into regularuse once more.Reduced activity, or indeed completeloss of activity of insecticides, can occur asthe result of a selection process acting overseveral generations of insect pest. IRACdefines resistance as a genetically caused“reduction in the sensitivity of a population,which is reflected in repeated failureof a product to achieve the expected levelof control when used according to the labelrecommendations for that pest species andwhere problems of product storage, applicationand unusual climatic or environmentalconditions can be eliminated.”Resistance can take various forms:Metabolic resistanceThe resistant pest can degrade the activesubstance before it has a chance to expressits toxicity.Target-ResistanceThe site of action of the active substance –i.e. the molecular target in the pest – haschanged so much that the active substanceis no longer effective.Resistance to penetrationThe resistant pest takes up the active substancemore slowly and/or in lower quantitiesthan the normal, sensitive pest.Behavioural resistanceThe resistant pest avoids contact with theactive substance. This leads to reduceduptake of the insecticide, and therefore,reduced activity.Quite often, resistance is not the resultof a single mechanism, but of the interactionbetween two or more mechanisms.Which factors favour thedevelopment and expressionof resistance?The ability to develop resistancedepends strongly on the biology of a particularspecies (generation frequency, reproductionrate, genetic variability). But pestbiology is only one factor influencingresistance development. Not using pesticidesaccording to the manufacturer’srecommendations can also encourage thedevelopment of resistance.Active substances generally bind to aparticular site (receptor) in the pest organism.Compounds in the same chemicalclass tend to be active at the same receptorsite, i.e. they have a common mode-ofaction.For example, chitin synthesis18 COURIER 1/05

inhibitors disturb the ecdysis process incertain insects; pyrethroids and neonicotinyl(chloronicotinyl) insecticides influence– via a number of different receptors– the transmission of signals betweennerve cells.Wherever a pest species develops resistanceto a particular active substance, it isusually also resistant to other active substanceswith the same mode of action. Thismeans that crops can no longer be protectedagainst pest attack using productsbased on this particular chemical class.As many pests are not restricted to a singlecrop, and because crop protection agentsmay be used in different crops against thesame pests, predictions of the risk of resistancedeveloping should consider the entirespectrum of crops attacked by a particularpest within a region – this determines howoften and how intensively a pest species isexposed to a particular active substance.Isolated pest populations – for examplethose found in association with large-scaleglasshouse growing – represent a particularlystrong risk of resistance development.Geographically-isolated populations (e.g.Colorado beetle on Long Island in theUSA) are exposed to similarly strongselection pressure, because no exchange ofgenetic material with non-exposed pestpopulations is possible.How can the risk of resistancedevelopment be reduced?Bayer CropScience is aware of its specialresponsibility to guarantee the sustainableand effective protection of agriculturalcrops. We take existing solutions to theproblem of resistance and strive to developthem further as instruments towards effectiveresistance management. Used alone orin mixtures, the established active substancesimidacloprid (Confidor ® ), thiacloprid(Calypso ® ) and deltamethrin (Decis ® ),and the new active substances spirodiclofen(Envidor ® ) and spiromesifen (Oberon ® )provide a solid foundation for these concepts.Moreover, Bayer CropScience researchersare working to develop active substancesfrom new chemical classes, in order tocontinue to be able to provide effectivealternatives into the future.Armyworm (Spodoptera sp.)The activity of a product can only be guaranteedwhen:1. the product is only applied at the recommendedrate, with the right timing, andwith appropriate application equipment;2. no more than the maximum permissiblenumber of applications is made;3. beneficial insects are protected, accordingto the spirit of integrated agriculture;4. agronomic activities (removal of harvestresidues, avoiding monocultures andshort rotations) are performed as part ofan ’Integrated Crop Management’approach.Treating with reduced application rates canjeopardize the chances of successful control,especially where infestation pressureis high; it also increases the risk of resistancedevelopment. The recommendedapplication rates should also be kept to,even when products are mixed. In fact,Diamond back moth (Plutella maculipennis)The cholinergic synapses are the most common target ofinsects’ nervous system (schematic figure)OrganophosphatesCarbamatesPyrethroidsNeonicotinoidsACh transporterAChPresynaptic cellAChVesiclecombining products or alternating withactive substances from different chemicalclasses can bring about a higher level ofactivity, completing the spectrum ofaction, and reducing the risk of resistancedevelopment. Detailed information aboutthe correct use of a crop protection agent isprovided in the instructions for use thataccompany every packaged product.OutlookResistance development in pests is acomplex process. Nevertheless, it is importantto remember that resistance can spreadrapidly within a pest population. Therefore,all of the agronomic measures availableunder Good Agricultural Practice shouldbe put to use, and the available crop protectionagents should be used responsibly,in the spirit of sustainable agriculture. ■CholineChAT+Acetyl CoAACh = AcetylcholineAChE = AcetylcholinesteraseNa +CholinetransporterAChAChECholine+Acetic acidSodium channelACh receptorsPostsynaptic cell1/05 COURIER 19

Producer premiumsfrom certified cottonSince July 2003, Bayer CropScience hasbeen working to enhance the profit potentialof each US producer’s crop by reinforcingthe value of cotton produced fromFiberMax ® cottonseed. The secret is toguarantee high quality and to track it in themarket place so that spinners and textilemanufacturers can be sure they’re gettingthe best. Insight into an innovative programguaranteeing quality from the farm to fabric.Setting the standardSelling cotton in today’s global marketplacedemands that producers find a way todistinguish themselves from their competition.Bayer CropScience has developed anovel way of reinforcing the value ofcotton produced from genuine FiberMaxcotton seed sold to spinning mills and textilemanufacturers so as to enhance theprofit potential of a producer’s crop. Thesecret is to certify high quality and track it.To protect the identity and capture thevalue of FiberMax cotton seed and toensure that spinners have the desired qualityand fiber length, Bayer CropScienceinitiated a certification program, CertifiedFiberMax Cotton in 2003. The programis a very new concept designed to give UScotton producers the opportunity to protectthe value of their high quality lint grownfrom FiberMax cotton.20 COURIER 1/05

An innovative tracking processThe process is simple: each bale of cottongrown from FiberMax seed is identifiedand tracked throughout the marketingand production cycle using an online trackingprogram.“At harvest, the bales are tagged with aPermanent Bale Identification number,which is used in the program to identifythem as Certified FiberMax cotton.Approved merchants and spinners can thenaccess the Certified FiberMax database tolook up bales that have been identified asCertified FiberMax lint from genuineFiberMax seed,” says Brent Crossland,Certified FiberMax Cotton MarketingManager, Bayer CropScience. “The spinningcommunity, especially internationalspinners, has shown great interest in thequality assurances provided by the CertifiedFiberMax Cotton program,” saysBrent. Bayer CropScience also monitorsinternal sales records, planted acres, yieldaverages and number of certified bales toensure the integrity of the program,“FiberMax cotton is known all over theworld for its excellent length, strength,micronaire and uniformity. By certifyingtheir cotton, US farmers are letting ginsand mills know that their cotton is the genuineFiberMax lint they’ve come to relyon. It’s a good way for them to make themost of their seed investment.” AddsBrent.The FiberMax certification programwas initiated in July, 2003 in the middle ofthe growing season, and 600,000 baleswere certified that same year. In 2004,Certified FiberMax Cotton was added tothe Globecot global price matrix and othermajor merchants. Many major merchantshave shifted from the ‘fibermax’ descriptorto Certified FiberMax Cotton due to internationalspinner demand for CertifiedFiberMax Cotton.Since Autumn 2003, the program hasbeen promoted through one-on-one discussionsas well as through formal presentationsand trade show booths at major meetingsheld around the world. Countries visitedinclude Singapore, Bangladesh, Germany,England, India, and Italy, withalmost every major cotton spinning countryrepresented at these meetings.Boosting Demand for qualitycottonHistorically, the grower, and consequentlythe breeder, have not had any monetaryor business incentive to develop andgrow cotton varieties with high fiber quality.In 2004, however, US growers whotraded their cotton bales on The Seam ® , anonline trading system that brings togethergrowers, merchants, ginners, mills, co-opsand warehouses, received an average of11.1 cents over the Commodity CreditCorporation (CCC) loan rate 1 . Meanwhile,Certified FiberMax offerings traded 2.3cents higher for a premium of 13.4 centsper pound. “Producing Certified FiberMaxCotton gives growers the opportunity tosell lint that commands a premium worldwide,”adds Brent.Because the United States is by far thelargest exporter of cotton at around 70%,satisfying export customers’ needs willbecome even more critical for US cottonproducers. And as the recent Beltwide1 Price per pound at which the CCC provides commodity secured loansto US farmers for a specified period of time.Cotton Conferences held in New Orleansin January 2005 showed, this demand andthe cotton industry internationally isincreasingly focused on fiber quality andFiberMax has become quite a reference.“Globally, the FiberMax name has becomesynonymous with high quality fiber,”explains Monty Christian. MarketingDirector, FiberMax Cotton Seed, BayerCropScience.“International spinners are now specificallyasking for Certified FiberMax cottonon an ever-increasing basis”, says Brent.“We even have Chinese buyers asking forour Certified lint by name. Growers continuallytell me they appreciate that someoneis working on their behalf to createdemand downstream and internationallyfor the cotton they grow,” he adds.Protecting the BrandThe success of Bayer CropScience cottonseed is also the brand itself and the factthat FiberMax has become synonymouswith fiber quality across the industry.FiberMax has such a strong reputationthat, in the past, three to four times more‘fibermax’ was claimed to be available inthe market than was actually grown!“Whilst imitation is the sincerest form offlattery we did not want the reputation ofFiberMax to be compromised,” explainsDavid Morgan, Head of Agricultural Cropsfor BioScience, Bayer CropScience.Indeed, the brand is so strong that is hasusurped the regional appellation usuallyused for cotton. “Usually merchants talkabout cotton by region, such as SanJoaquin Valley [Calif.], Australian orMemphis Eastern cotton. FiberMax is theonly brand that is traded by name ratherthan region,” comments Monty.Outgrowing the marketIn 2004, FiberMax achieved 24 percentmarket share, making Bayer CropSciencethe second largest cotton seed supplier inthe United States, with its FiberMax cottonseed planted on more than twice theacreage of the third largest supplier.Of the top three cotton seed suppliers,only Bayer CropScience, with its FiberMaxbrand, has seen steady growth over the pastfive years. “Seeing this kind of growth in arelatively flat market is just incredible,”said Monty. “In general, cotton acreage isnot going up. Our success with FiberMax1/05 COURIER 21

is based on the quality germplasm packagewe offer growers, providing excellent fiberquality and high yield characteristics.”In Texas alone, nearly half the cottonplanted is of the FiberMax variety. Indeed,a recent study on FiberMax cotton seedbrand awareness conducted by ForwardResearch in March 2004 showed thatnearly two-thirds of the 454 cotton growersmentioned FiberMax when asked for cottonseed brands and 90% of respondentswho planted FiberMax in 2003 intend toplant it again in 2004. 2 The study confirmedthat respondents have a positiveimage of FiberMax and believe it produceshigh quality cotton and yields well.And this success and recognition is notlimited to the U.S. market. The FiberMaxcotton business has also been highlysuccessful in Greece, Turkey, Spain andBrazil: “We intend to consolidate our positionas the largest provider of cotton seedin Europe,” says David Morgan.What is behind this success and why isdemand so high for our cotton seed?Premium GeneticsAccording to Mike Gilbert, Global GeneralManager for Cotton in BioScience,Bayer CropScience, “The success of ourcotton lies in the quality of the genetics”.The cotton seed varieties that became‘FiberMax’ are based on an exceptionalgermplasm pool accessed through a jointventure between Bayer CropScience and theAustralian Commonwealth Scientific andIndustrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).“We have over 30 varieties derived frompremium genetic material that offers highyield and fiber quality across a number ofgeographies and management options”,explains Mike. What is more, the FiberMaxrange includes varieties with herbicidetolerant and insect resistant technologiesthat are in high demand as well as a numberof stacked varieties. This means thatthey include two or more desired traits(desired or targeted characteristics soughtby a breeder e.g. yield, stress tolerance,disease tolerance).The unique package of FiberMax seedis enhanced by traits, crop protection productsand services and this offering isconstantly being improved. In 2004, Bio-Science introduced LibertyLink ® Cottonas well Bollgard II ® Insect Protection intodifferent FiberMax varieties. According toMonty, “The Ignite/LibertyLink Cottonsystem is the first post-emergent herbicidegenetically modified system to be introducedin cotton since RoundUp Ready ®3was launched in 1997. It offers growersanother choice for excellent weed controland has already been introduced in fiveFiberMax varieties.”LibertyLink Cotton varieties have a fulltolerance to IGNITE ® herbicide (glufosinate),enabling growers to spray IGNITEdirectly over-the-top to control a broadspectrum of key grasses and broadleafweeds commonly found in cotton-producingareas. IGNITE and LibertyLink Cottonoffer full crop tolerance allowing anextremely broad application window.2 Forward Research Cotton Seed Study on behalf of Bayer CropScience. March 2004. Sample of 454 growersin Southwest, Mid-South and Southeast. All participants were the person responsible for making decisions oncotton seed and had to have planted at least 250 acres of cotton in 2003.3 registered trademark of Monsanto, USAThe power of branding: examples of the current advertising campaign of FiberMax in the United States.22 COURIER 1/05

In 2004, Bayer CropScience also introducedfour new FiberMax varieties containingthe new Bollgard II ® Insect Protectiontrait stacked with RoundupReady ® , offering growers enhanced insectcontrol and resistance management. BayerCropScience has been the largest providerof this new technology introducing it inelite germplasm and offering growerstwice as many choices as competitor seedcompanies.The futureThe future for Bayer CropSciencecotton is looking good from both theresearch and the business perspectives.Bayer CropScience research teams havebeen making real progress in a number ofareas, not least of which is uncovering themechanics of fiber development andlength which will be of great value to theentire cotton industry and will take cottonquality yet another step further. From abusiness perspective, the innovative CertifiedFiberMax program is likely to havepositive repercussions right along the distributionchain. ■FiberMax is a good way to make the most of the seed investment.FiberMax taking on EuropeBeyond the U.S., BioScience is leading the cottonseed markets in both Greeceand Spain; the only cotton producing countries in the European Union. Indeed,FiberMax has claimed a market share of an impressive 34% in Spain and30% in Greece. The company has 23% of cotton seed sold in Turkey andsold 7-8% in Brazil, in 2004/05. BioScience also has an emerging commercialpresence in India with hybrid, conventional and genetically enhancedcotton seed.According to BioScience Cotton Business Manager, Charles Grange, who isplaying a crucial role in FiberMax’s penetration of the European market,“The beauty of our package is that we don’t just go out to our growers withsuperior varieties. In our US markets we can propose a range of desiredtraits and to our European markets we can offer an exceptional packageof quality crop protection products and local, adapted expertise in cropmanagement.”A convincing package: The Ignite/LibertyLink cotton system.1/05 COURIER 23

Nature and technologySkins, cuticles and other membranes area special characteristic of life: without them,living organisms simply wouldn’t be able tosurvive. They not only act as a barrier to,and protection from, the influences of theoutside environment; they also regulate theexchange of substances into and out of theorganism. But the ideal “packaging” shouldopen only at the right time, and at the rightlocation.The infructescence (fruiting head) of thebog arum (Calla palustris) is an exampleof a flawless natural opening mechanism.This perennial plant grows in boggy areasand pools in Northern and Central Europe,reaching a height of up to 30 cm. Theinfructescence comprises many individualfruits. As soon as all of them are ripeenough, this aggregate fruit bursts openat special breaking points.A glass ampoule is the ideal packagingfor medical solutions intended for injection:small, light, convenient and sturdy. It mustbe able to open without shattering, and thisis made possible by incorporating a breakingpoint, at which the glass wall is thinner – sothat the neck of the ampoule can be snappedopen easily and safely. ■www.bayercropscience.com